Responses of Marchantia in Aseptic Culture to Well-known Auxins and Antiauxins

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Abstract
Responses of young thalli of Marchantia nepalensis to ten well-known auxins and antiauxins in aseptic culture are described. Effects of one concentration of an auxin or an antiauxin were studied in both liquid and solid cultures. The normal growth of inoculated thalli was inhibited but callus-like tissue was produced on them by the highest concentration (I.O mg./I.) of almost all the growth substances except MH, TIBA, and 2, 4−DNP. At a later period callus-like tissue produced by IAA, IBA, and IPA differentiated into new thalli but that produced by NAA, NOA, 2,4−D, and TCPA only did so on being transferred to control medium. At lower concentrations inoculated thalli developed normally but they were soon overgrown by daughter thalli. No protonemal phase comparable to that of mosses could be observed in the developmental stage of a regenerating thallus. The early stage is characterized by a stable filamentous structure, normally consisting of two to three cells. Filamentous structures of varying number of cells were however produced in some treatments. Profuse rhizoids were produced by the highest concentration of NOA, 2,4−D, TCPA, IBA, and IPA. Certain growth substances inhibited the formation of tuberculate but not of smooth rhizoids in liquid but not in solid cultures. Also tuberculate rhizoids with feebly developed pegs were produced in certain liquid cultures only and even in control liquid culture. More gemma-cups were produced in liquid cultures. Germinated gemmae with rhizoids were invariably present in solid but not in corresponding liquid cultures. Germinated gemmae within gemma-cups were frequently found. The significance of these results is discussed.